Chapter XLIV: Book XXVII: Argument

The Fragments of this book are of too diversified a character to
form a correct conclusion with regard to the general subject.
Corpet admits the difficulty, but considers that it contained
a criticism upon the philosophic opinions of the day. Mercer
thinks that the principal portion was occupied by a matrimonial
discussion, in which the lady had decidedly the better of the
argument; who being sprung from a more noble descent, and being
possessed of a more ample fortune, considered that the control
of the household pertained to herself, as a matter of right.
These conjectures, however satisfactory as far as they go,
will not sufficiently account for the greater portion of the
Fragments. Gerlach supposes that the book contained a defense of
the poet's own pursuits and habits of life against the attacks
of calumniators. The book begins, therefore, with a conversation
between the poet and a friend, when the various points at issue
are brought forward and refuted. The chief of these are the
study of poetry; which, as Lucilius maintains, conduces greatly
to the well-being of the state. He then defends his choice of
the particular branch of poetry which he has adopted, and proves
that his satiric view is to be attributed to no arrogance,
self-sufficiency, or malevolence, or envy toward his fellow-men;
that he himself is possessed of a certain evenness of temper,
neither elated by prosperity nor depressed by adversity. The
result of this temperament is an openness of heart, and frankness
of disposition, which leads him to form friendships rapidly,
without that cautious circumspection which commonly attends
men of less equable tone of mind. This peculiar disposition of
mind is also one which, extending to itself no indulgence for
any frailty, is but little inclined to overlook the weaknesses
of others, but impartially corrects the failings of itself and
others: whereas the more common character of mankind is to be
indulgently blind to those faults to which they are themselves
inclined, and severely critical of the imperfections of their
neighbors. While others, again, make it their whole study
hypocritically to conceal their own defects. He concludes with
a sentiment which Horace has borrowed and enlarged upon, that
whereas no perfection can be expected in this life, he is to be
accounted to have arrived most nearly at the wished-for goal, who
is disfigured by the fewest defects; and since all human affairs
are at the best but frail and fleeting, it is a characteristic of
wisdom out of evils to choose the least.

1 Moreover it is inherent in good men, whether they are angry
or kindly disposed, to remain long in the same way of
thinking.[1871]

2 The cook cares not that the tail be very large, provided it be
fat. So friends look to a man's mind; parasites, to his riches.

3 He acts in the same way as those who secretly convey away from
the harbor an article not entered, that they may not have to
pay custom-dues.[1872]

4 Lucilius greets the people in such elaborate verses as he can;
and all this too zealously and assiduously.[1873]

5 ... do you think Lucilius will be content, when I have wearied
myself out, and used all my best endeavors....

6 ... for such a return as this indeed they foreboded, and to
offend in no other thing.

7 ... those, too, who have approached the door they throw out of
the windows on their head--

8 ... that I envy no one, nor often cast a jealous eye on their
luxuries[1874]

9 ... he on the other hand ... all things imperceptibly and
gradually ... out of doors, that he might hurt no one

10 nor, like the Greeks, at whatever question you ask, do we
inquire, where are the Socratic writings?[1875]

11 This is little better than moderate; this, as being as bad as
possible, is less so.

12 Let your order, therefore, now bring forward the crimes he has
committed....

13 ... rather than an indifferent harvest, and a poor vintage

14 ... but if you will watch and carefully observe these for a
little time.

15 ... but whatever may happen, or not, I bear patiently and
courageously.

16 But if you watch the man who rejoices....

17 What dutiful affection? Five mere shadows of men call....[1876]

18 When I beg for peace, when I soothe her, accost her, and call
her "my own!"

19 Yet elsewhere a wart or a scar, a mole or pimples, differ.[1877]

20 ... to which he has once made up his mind, and as he thinks
altogether....

21 ... when my little slaves, come to me ... should not I salute
my mistress--

22 ... they call mad, whom they see called a sap or a woman.[1878]

23 ... nor if I ... usury a little less; and helped a long time.

24 ... now up, now down, like a mountebank's neck.[1879]

25 ... his country's adviser, and hereditary legislator--

26 What they lend one another, is safe without fear of loss

27 ... if face surpass face, and figure figure--

28 let them rather spare him, whom they can, and in whom they
think credit can be placed.[1880]

29 ... since I know that nothing in life is given to man as his
own.

30 We were nimble ... thinking that would be ours forever.[1881]

31 Yet if this has not come back to you, you will lack this
advantage.

32 I fear it can not be; and I differ from Archilochus.[1882]

33 ... than that he should not alone swallow up and squander all.

34

35 ... especially, if, as I hope, you lend me this....[1883]

36 ... first, with what courage he prevented slavery....

37

38 ... but you fear, moreover, lest you should be captivated by
the sight, and her beauty....

39 ... in prosperity to be elated, in adversity to be depressed....

40 ... I will send one to plunder the property; I will look out
for a wretched beggar....

41 ... for even from boyhood ... to extricate myself from love....

42 ... whether you maintain at home twenty or thirty or a hundred
bread-wasters.[1884]

43 I would have you, as is fair, place faith in hymns.[1885]

44 ... bids you God speed, and salutes you most heartily and
warmly.[1886]

FOOTNOTES:

[1871] _Propitius_ is sometimes applied to human beings as well as to deities. Cf. Ter., Adelph., I., i., 6, "Uxor quæ in animo cogitat irata, quam illa quæ parentes propitii." Cic., Att., viii., 16, "hunc propitium sperant, illum iratum putant." The last line is very corrupt. Gerlach proposes to read "soliditas propositi," which is scarcely tenable.

[1872] _Inscriptum_, any thing contraband, not entered or marked at the custom-house, portitorium. Varr., R. R., II., i., 16.

[1873] Gerlach reads _factis_ instead of _fictis_, which Nonius must have followed. Cf. Hor., i., Sat. x., 58, "Num rerum dura negarit Versiculos natura magis _factos_ et euntes mollius." Cic., de Orat., iii., 48, "Oratio polita et facta quodammodo." So in Greek, κατειργασμένος· πεποιημένος. Longin., viii.

[1874] _Strabo._ Cf. Hor., i., Epist. xiv., 37, "Non istic _obliquo oculo_ mea commoda quisquam limat." To this Varro opposes "integris oculis."

[1875] Cf. Hor., A. P., 310, "Rem tibi Socraticæ poterunt ostendere chartæ."

[1876] _Monogrammi._ Cf. lib. ii., Fr. 17.

[1877] _Papulæ._ Cf. Sen., Vit. Beat., 27, "Papulas observatis alienas, obsiti plurimis ulceribus." Virg., Georg., iii., 564.

[1878] _Maltha_ is properly a thick unctuous excretion; fossil tar or petroleum; thence used, like our English "sap," for an effeminate fool: perhaps from the Greek μαλακός.

[1879] _Cernuus._ Cf. iii., Fr. 20. Properly "one who falls on his face;" then applied to a mountebank or tumbler, throwing somersaults; a πεταυριστὴς· κυβιστητήρ. Cf. "jactata petauro corpora," Juv., xiv., 265, with the note. Lucil., Fr. inc. 40. _Collus_ is the older form of _collum_.

[1880] Very corrupt: the reading followed is adopted by Dusa and Gerlach.

[1881] _Pernicis._ Cf. Hor., Epod. ii., 42, "Pernicis uxor Appuli."

[1882] _Excidere_ Nonius explains by _dissentire_.

[1883] Cf. Plaut., Curc., I., i., 47, "Ego cum illâ facere nolo mutuum."

[1884] _Cibicidas_, i. e., "slaves," a humorous word, "consumers of food."

[1885] Cf. ad xxviii., 44.

[1886] _Sospitat_, a religious phrase, properly "to preserve, protect." Plaut., Amph., III., viii., 501, Hild., "Dii plus plusque istuc sospitent." So Ennius, "regnum sospitent superstitentque." _Impertit._ Cf. Cic., Att., ii., 12, "Terentia impertit tibi multam salutem."